ICES advice 2018

her.27.25-2932

Herring (Clupea harengus) in subdivisions 25–29 and 32, excluding the Gulf of Riga (central Baltic Sea)

Published 31 May 2018


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ICES advice on fishing opportunities

ICES advises that when the EU multiannual plan (MAP) is applied, catches in 2019 that correspond to the F ranges in the plan are between 115 591 tonnes and 192 787 tonnes. According to the MAP, catches higher than those corresponding to FMSY (155 333 tonnes) can only be taken under conditions specified in the MAP, whilst the entire range is considered precautionary when applying the ICES advice rule. This advice applies to all catches from the stock, including those taken in Subdivision 28.1.


Stock development over time

Spawning-stock biomass (SSB) decreased until 2001 and then increased, and it has been above MSY Btrigger since 2007. Fishing mortality (F) increased until 2000 and then decreased, remaining below FMSY between 2004 to 2014. F has been above FMSY since 2015. Recruitment in 2015 is estimated to be the highest of the whole time-series.

Figure 1 Summary of the stock assessment. (SSB in 2018 is predicted). Herring in subdivisions 25–29 and 32, excluding the Gulf of Riga.


Summary of the assessment

Assessment summary for herring in subdivisions 25–29 and 32, excluding the Gulf of Riga. Weights are in tonnes. Recruitment in thousands.


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Year recruitment high_recruitment low_recruitment low_SSB SSB high_SSB catches landings discards low_F F high_F StockPublishNote Purpose Fage fishstock recruitment_age AssessmentYear units stockSizeDescription stockSizeUnits fishingPressureDescription fishingPressureUnits
1974 18113439 NA NA NA 1683199 NA 368652 368652 NA NA 0.185 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1975 13328497 NA NA NA 1577243 NA 354851 354851 NA NA 0.200 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1976 26357070 NA NA NA 1368713 NA 305420 305420 NA NA 0.193 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1977 13398355 NA NA NA 1521763 NA 301952 301952 NA NA 0.189 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1978 15699258 NA NA NA 1441563 NA 278966 278966 NA NA 0.164 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1979 12852771 NA NA NA 1409790 NA 278182 278182 NA NA 0.195 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1980 18709550 NA NA NA 1358669 NA 270282 270282 NA NA 0.187 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1981 31182196 NA NA NA 1288090 NA 293615 293615 NA NA 0.203 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1982 29084783 NA NA NA 1433825 NA 273134 273134 NA NA 0.174 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1983 22117019 NA NA NA 1407419 NA 307601 307601 NA NA 0.224 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1984 29432137 NA NA NA 1320444 NA 277926 277926 NA NA 0.224 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1985 22861666 NA NA NA 1269393 NA 275760 275760 NA NA 0.230 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1986 11512725 NA NA NA 1204273 NA 240516 240516 NA NA 0.202 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1987 20979742 NA NA NA 1148973 NA 248653 248653 NA NA 0.231 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1988 9385674 NA NA NA 1152968 NA 255734 255734 NA NA 0.219 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1989 14180038 NA NA NA 1015712 NA 275501 275501 NA NA 0.290 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1990 18987100 NA NA NA 872894 NA 228572 228572 NA NA 0.275 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1991 14566106 NA NA NA 785359 NA 197676 197676 NA NA 0.284 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1992 17837719 NA NA NA 805439 NA 189781 189781 NA NA 0.253 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1993 16412629 NA NA NA 757457 NA 209094 209094 NA NA 0.286 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1994 14849303 NA NA NA 766079 NA 218260 218260 NA NA 0.345 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1995 19786861 NA NA NA 663649 NA 188181 188181 NA NA 0.323 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1996 16624113 NA NA NA 607555 NA 162578 162578 NA NA 0.329 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1997 9806995 NA NA NA 568069 NA 160002 160002 NA NA 0.361 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1998 15396681 NA NA NA 518262 NA 185780 185780 NA NA 0.383 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
1999 8423950 NA NA NA 438376 NA 145922 145922 NA NA 0.329 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
2000 15608640 NA NA NA 438584 NA 175646 175646 NA NA 0.436 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
2001 11115702 NA NA NA 402051 NA 148404 148404 NA NA 0.368 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
2002 10624693 NA NA NA 414221 NA 129222 129222 NA NA 0.320 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
2003 20989359 NA NA NA 474095 NA 113584 113584 NA NA 0.248 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
2004 13391691 NA NA NA 478235 NA 93006 93006 NA NA 0.208 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
2005 8899602 NA NA NA 538093 NA 91592 91592 NA NA 0.189 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
2006 15642078 NA NA NA 595604 NA 110372 110372 NA NA 0.205 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
2007 13579922 NA NA NA 625795 NA 116030 116030 NA NA 0.207 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
2008 26055248 NA NA NA 638154 NA 126155 126155 NA NA 0.210 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
2009 19420327 NA NA NA 731833 NA 134127 134127 NA NA 0.187 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
2010 14094909 NA NA NA 784462 NA 136706 136706 NA NA 0.219 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
2011 8414568 NA NA NA 773620 NA 116785 116785 NA NA 0.170 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
2012 16955522 NA NA NA 812923 NA 100893 100893 NA NA 0.124 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
2013 17582712 NA NA NA 836820 NA 100954 100954 NA NA 0.112 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
2014 13247366 NA NA NA 896159 NA 132700 132700 NA NA 0.162 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
2015 45954446 NA NA NA 828008 NA 174433 174433 NA NA 0.229 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
2016 13209638 NA NA NA 779717 NA 192056 192056 NA NA 0.280 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
2017 14168516 NA NA NA 837924 NA 202517 202517 NA NA 0.276 NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1
2018 17384000 NA NA NA 808715 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA Stock published Advice 3-6 her.27.25-2932 1 2018 tonnes SSB tonnes F Year-1


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Stock and explotation status


ICES assesses that fishing pressure on the stock is above FMSY and below Fpa and Flim; spawning stock size is above MSY Btrigger, Bpa, and Blim.


Table 1 State of the stock and fishery relative to reference points for herring in subdivisions 25–29 and 32, excluding the Gulf of Riga.


Catch scenarios


Table 2 Assumptions made for the interim year and in the forecast for herring in subdivisions 25–29 and 32, excluding the Gulf of Riga.Weights are in tonnes. Recruitment is in thousands.
Variable Value Notes
F ages 3–6 (2018) 0.35 Based on a TAC constraint*
SSB (2018) 808715.00
Rage1 (2018) 17383000.00 RCT3 estimate.
Rage1 (2019–2020) 14843754.00 Geometric mean 1988–2016.
Total catch (2018) 262935.00 TAC constraint*

* TAC constraint in 2018: EU share 229 355 tonnes + Russian quota 29 500 tonnes + central Baltic herring stock caught in Gulf of Riga 4 340 tonnes (mean 2012–2016) − Gulf of Riga herring stock caught in central Baltic Sea 260 tonnes (mean 2012 – 2016) = 262 935 tonnes .

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Table 3 Annual catch scenarios for herring in subdivisions 25–29 and 32, excluding the Gulf of Riga. All weights are in tonnes.

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Basis Total.catch..2019. Ftotal..2019. SSB..2019. SSB..2020. X..SSB.change.. X..Advicechange…
ICES advice basis
2 EU MAP^^: FMSY 155333 0.22 735005 716594 -3% -42%
Other scenarios
3 EU MAP^^: Flower 115591 0.16 750157 766194 2% -42%***
4 EU MAP^^: Fupper 192787 0.28 720202 670935 -7% -42%^
6 ICES MSY approach: FMSY 155333 0.22 735005 716594 -3% -42%
7 20% decrease in TAC ^^^ 210703 0.31 712928 649472 -9% -21%
8 F = 0 0 0.00 791368 916969 16% -100%
9 F = Fpa 263813 0.41 690577 587317 -15% -1%
10 F = Flim 318710 0.52 666102 525436 -21% 19%
11 SSB (2020) = Blim 408365 0.73 622595 429752 -31% 53%
12 SSB (2020) = Bpa 254003 0.39 694799 598630 -14% -5%
13 SSB (2020) = MSY Btrigger 254003 0.39 694799 598630 -14% -5%
14 F = F2018 232886 0.35 703741 623242 -11% -13%

* SSB 2020 relative to SSB 2019.

** Advice value in 2019 relative to Advice value for EU MAP: FMSY 2018 (267 745 tonnes).

*** Advice value for 2019 relative to Advice value for EU MAP: Flower 2018 (200 236 tonnes).

^ Advice value for 2019 relative to Advice value for EU MAP: Fupper 2018 (331 510 tonnes).

^^ MAP multiannual plan (EU, 2016).

^^^ TAC = TAC in 2018: EU share 229 355 tonnes + Russian quota 29 500 tonnes + central Baltic herring stock caught in Gulf of Riga 4 340 tonnes (mean 2012–2016) − Gulf of Riga herring stock caught in central Baltic Sea 260 tonnes (mean 2012 – 2016) = 262 935 tonnes.


The decreased catch advice is due to a change in the perception of the stock size. The stock size was downscaled and fishing mortality was upscaled due to the low survey indices in the last two years. There is also a downward revision of the 2014 year class.

Catch scenarios plot

The following plot resumes Fishing mortality scenarios (see Table 3) and the related estimates of Catch and next years’ Spawning Stock Biomass. Vertical and horizontal dashed lines show the available reference points (see also Reference Points section). In the hover text appearing in each point is indicated the value in tonnes (of Cath or of SSB) and the scenario represented. At the same time, in the horizontal axis will show up the corresponding F value.

This plot is produced with plotly. Among available features, it can be downloaded as .png and it is possible to zoom in and out.


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Basis of the advice


Table 4 The basis of the advice for hake in subareas 4, 6, and 7, and in divisions 3.a, 8.a–b, and 8.d, Northern stock.
Advice basis EU Baltic multiannual plan
Management plan The EU multiannual plan (MAP) in place for stocks in the Baltic Sea includes herring (EU, 2016). The advice is based on the provisions of the plan and is considered precautionary.



Quality of the assessment


A high variability between years in the survey index, in particular in the last years due to the large year class of 2014, is the likely cause of the downward revision of SSB and upward revision of fishing mortality for the recent years. However, applying stochastic models (in this case SAM) to the data shows that these revisions are within the uncertainty bounds of these SAM estimates.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the stocks of western Baltic spring-spawning herring (Division 3.a and subdivisions 22–24) and central Baltic herring (subdivisions 25–29 and 32, excluding Gulf of Riga herring) are mixing in subdivisions 24–26 (Gröhsler et al., 2013). The level of this mixing is presently unknown and its potential impact on the assessment should be investigated.

Species misreporting of herring has occurred in the past (Hentati-Sundberg et al., 2014) and there are again indications that it is a problem in some nations.

Figure 2 Historical assessment results for herring in subdivisions 25–29 and 32, excluding the Gulf of Riga.


Issues relevant for the advice


The FMSY ranges in the EU Baltic Sea multiannual plan (MAP; EU, 2016) are consistent with the ranges provided by ICES (2015); these were evaluated to result in no more than 5% reduction in long-term yield compared with MSY. The ICES advice according to the MAP is based on the provisions of the plan and is considered precautionary. The ICES advice rule is used, i.e. F is adjusted by the factor SSB/MSY Btrigger when SSB is below MSY Btrigger. For this stock, the SSB in 2019 is above MSY Btrigger. In such a situation, catch scenarios applicable under the MAP correspond to fishing mortalities between Flower and Fupper. However, according to the MAP, catches corresponding to F higher than FMSY (i.e. Column B of Annex I in the MAP) can only be taken under conditions specified in the MAP.

Under the EU landing obligation, which entered into force in 2015, up to 9% interspecies quota transfers are allowed for stocks that are considered to be within safe biological limits (EU, 2013 – Article 15). Quota transfers were not considered in this catch advice. To achieve FMSY exploitation, any transfer under this regulation should be accounted for in setting the TAC.

It should be noted that the large 2014 year class will be the main contributor to the yield in 2018 and 2019 and SSB in 2019 and 2020, and no substantial new incoming year classes are predicted. It is uncommon to see such large contribution of one year class to the SSB as seen in the short term prediction for 2019 and 2020. Three last year classes are below or at the average and if such a situation continues, a marked decline in biomass development can be expected.


Figure 3 Contribution to yield and SSB of successive year classes (ages 1–8+) as estimated in the short-term forecast for 2018–2020 under the TAC constraint in 2018. Herring in subdivisions 25–29 and 32, excluding the Gulf of Riga.


A mixture of central Baltic herring (subdivisions 25–27, 28.2, 29, and 32) and the Gulf of Riga herring (Subdivision 28.1) is caught in the central Baltic Sea. In the assessment and the advice the central Baltic herring stock is considered to be caught both in and outside the central Baltic Sea. The TAC (sum of the EU and the Russian autonomous quotas) is set for herring caught in the central Baltic management area, which includes also a small amount of Gulf of Riga herring caught in the central Baltic Sea but excludes central Baltic herring caught outside the central Baltic Sea.

The TAC value proposed for the central Baltic area is based on the advised catch for the central Baltic herring stock, plus the assumed catch of the Gulf of Riga herring taken in the central Baltic, minus the assumed catch of herring from the central Baltic stock taken in the Gulf of Riga. The values of the two latter are given by the average over the last five years.

  • Central Baltic herring assumed to be taken in the Gulf of Riga in 2019 (Subdivision 28.1) is 4363 tonnes (average 2013–2017);
  • Gulf of Riga herring assumed to be taken in Subdivision 28.2 in 2019 is 251 tonnes (average 2013–2017).

As an example, following the ICES MSY approach (here identical to the MAP FMSY), catches from the central Baltic herring stock in 2019 should be no more than 155 335 tonnes. The corresponding TAC in the central Baltic management area for 2019 would be calculated as 155 335 tonnes + 251 tonnes – 4363 tonnes = 151 221 tonnes .


Reference Points


Table 5 Reference points, values, and their technical basis. Herring in Subarea 4 and divisions 3.a and 7.d, autumn spawners.


Framework Reference.point Value Technical.basis Source
MSY approach MSY Btrigger 600 000 Bpa ICES (2013)
FMSY 0.22 Stochastic simulations with Beverton, Ricker, and segmented regression stock–recruitment curve from the full time-series (1974-2013). ICES (2015)
Precautionary approach Blim 430 000 Bloss ICES (2013)
Bpa 600 000 1.4 × Blim ICES (2013)
Flim 0.52 Consistent with Blim ICES (2013)
Fpa 0.41 Consistent with Bpa ICES (2013)
Management plan MAP MSY Btrigger 600 000 MSY Btrigger EU (2016 – Annex II column A)
MAP Blim 430 000 Blim EU (2016 – Annex II column B
MAP FMSY 0.22 FMSY EU (2016 – Annex I columns A and B)
MAP target range Flower 0.16–0.22 Consistent with the ranges provided by ICES (2015), resulting in no more than 5% reduction in long-term yield compared with MSY. ICES (2015) and EU (2016 – Annex I column A)
MAP target range Fupper 0.22–0.28 Consistent with the ranges provided by ICES (2015), resulting in no more than 5% reduction in long-term yield compared with MSY. ICES (2015) and EU (2016 – Annex I column B)

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Basis of the assessment


Table 6 Basis of the assessment and advice for herring in Subarea 4 and divisions 3.a and 7.d, autumn spawners.
Assessment type Age-based analytical assessment, XSA (ICES, 2018) that uses catches in the model and in the forecast.
Input data Commercial catches (international landings, age distributions from catch sampling); one survey acoustic index (BIAS); natural mortalities from multispecies model (SMS) until 2011, for 2012?2017 natural mortalities are based on regression of M against eastern Baltic cod SSB; fixed maturity ogive.
Discards and bycatch Not included; considered negligible.
Indicators Exploratory SAM assessment
Other information Last benchmarked in 2013 (ICES, 2013).
Working group Baltic Fisheries Assessment Working Group (WGBFAS)

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Information from stakeholders

There is no additional information available.


History of the advice, catch, and management

Table 7 ICES advice and catch for herring in Subarea 4 and divisions 3.a and 7.d, autumn spawners. All weights are in tonnes.


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Year ICES.advice Catch.corresp..to.advice Agreed.TAC ICES.catch.SDs.25.29.32 ICES.catch
1988* 204000 399000** 286000 NA
1989* 176000 399000** 290000 NA
1990* 112000 399000** 244000 NA
1991* TAC for entire area 293000 402000** 213000 NA
1992* F near present level 343000 402000** 210000 NA
1993* Increase in yield at higher F 371000 560000** 231000 NA
1994* Increase in yield at higher F 317000–463000 560000** 242000 NA
1995* TAC 394000 560000** 221000 NA
1996* TAC 394000 560000** 195000 NA
1997* No advice
560000** 208000 NA
1998* No advice
560000** 212000 NA
1999* Proposed Fpa = (0.17) 117000 476000** 178000 NA
2000* Proposed Fpa = (0.17) 95000 405000** 208000 NA
2001* Proposed Fpa = (0.17) 60000 300000** 188000 NA
2002* F < Fpa < 73000 Not agreed** 168000 NA
2003* F < Fpa < 72000 143000** 154000 NA
2004 F < Fpa < 80000 171000** NA 93000
2005 F < Fpa (single-stock exploitation boundaries) < 130000 130000*** NA 92000
2006 F < Fpa (single-stock exploitation boundaries) < 120000 128000*** NA 110000
2007 F < Fpa (single-stock exploitation boundaries) < 164000 133000^ NA 116000
2008 F < Fpa (single-stock exploitation boundaries) < 194000 153000^ NA 126154
2009 F < Fpa (single-stock exploitation boundaries) < 147000 143609^ NA 134126
2010 F < Fpa (single-stock exploitation boundaries) < 103000 139776^^ NA 136706
2011 MSY Framework (F = 0.19) < 95000 120020^^ NA 116785
2012 MSY transition (F = Fpa = 0.19) < 92000 93317^^ NA 100893
2013 MSY transition (F = Fpa = 0.19) < 117000 101480^^ NA 100954
2014 MSY approach < 164000 132225^^ NA 132700
2015 MSY approach (FMSY = 0.26) < 193000 186351^^ NA 174433
2016 MSY approach (FMSY = 0.22) ? 201000 206605^^ NA 192056
2017 MSY approach (FMSY = 0.22) ? 216000 220629^^ NA 202517
2018 MAP target F ranges: Flower to Fupper (F = 0.16–0.28), but F higher than FMSY = 0.22 only under conditions specified in MAP 200236–331510, but catch higher than 267745 only under conditions specified in MAP 258855^^ NA NA
2019 MAP target F ranges: Flower to Fupper (F = 0.16–0.28), but F higher than FMSY = 0.22 only under conditions specified in MAP 115591–192787, but catch higher than 155333 only under conditions specified in MAP NA NA
* 1987–2003 incl. Gulf of Riga herring.

** TAC for subdivisions 22–29S and 32.

*** TAC for subdivisions 25–28(2), 29, and 32.

^ EU TAC for subdivisions 25–28(2), 29, and 32.

^^ TAC is calculated as EU (subdivisions 25–28(2), 29, and 32) + Russian autonomous quotas.



History of the catch and landings

Table 8 Catch distribution by fleet in 2017 as estimated by ICES for herring in Subarea 4 and divisions 3.a and 7.d, autumn spawners. All weights are in tonnes.
Catch.central.Baltic.management.area Total_catch_stock Landings Discards
198 856 tonnes 202 517 tonnes Mainly pelagic trawls. Minor part taken by trapnets, gillnets, and purse seines Discarding is considered to be negligible.
202 517 tonnes


Table 9 History of commercial catch and landings of herring in Subarea 4 and divisions 3.a and 7.d, autumn spawners. Both the official and ICES estimated values are presented by area for each country participating in the fishery. All weights are in tonnes.


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Year Denmark Finland Germany Poland USSR Sweden Total X X.1 X.2 X.3
1977 11900 33 700 57200 112814 48700 264314 NA
1978 13900 38 300 100 61300 113872 55400 282872 NA
1979 19400 40 400 70400 100958 71300 302458 NA
1980 10600 44000 58300 103002 72500 288402 NA
1981 14100 42500 1000 51200 93431 72900 275131 NA
1982 15300 47500 1300 63000 86423 83800 297323 NA
1983 10500 59100 1000 67100 69059 78600 285359 NA
1984 6500 54100 65800 89757 56900 273057 NA
1985 7600 54200 72800 95225 42500 272325 NA
1986 3900 49400 67800 98773 29700 249573 NA
1987 4200 50400 55500 100916 25400 236416 NA
1988 10800 58100 57200 106009 33400 265509 NA
1989 7300 50000 51800 105017 55400 269517 NA
1990 4600 26900 52300 101269 44200 229269 NA
Year Denmark Estonia Finland Germany Latvia Lithuania Poland Russia NA Sweden Total
1991 6800 27036 18100 20709 6500 47100 31900 NA 36500 194645
1992 8100 22264 30000 12533 4600 39200 29500 NA 43000 189197
1993 8900 25420 32300 9576 3000 41100 21600 NA 66400 208296
1994 11300 26345 38200 3700 9797 4900 46100 16700 NA 61600 218641
1995 11400 30681 31400 9328 3600 38700 17000 NA 47200 189309
1996 12148 35943 31502 11569 4243 30712 14626 NA 25909 166652
1997 9397 42585 23749 10140 3324 26229 12526 NA 44078 172028
1998 13876 34005 24777 9972 2368 19344 10520 NA 70997 185860
1999 6185 35437 17850 8292 1312 18121 12676 NA 48866 148739
2000 15786 30135 23330 6718 1070 23066 14814 NA 60161 175080
2001 15786 27425 26103 5217 1639 28358 15797 NA 29832 150156
2002 4557 21010 25724 291 3917 1537 28510 14168 NA 29423 129137
2003 5339 13300 14698 3860 3132 2060 26311 13363 NA 31785 113848
2004 175 10912 14468 4323 2655 1778 22834 6526 NA 29336 93006
2005 3053 10783 6410 3713 1951 748 18476 7007 NA 39426 91600
2006 100 13400 9600 3200 3000 1200 16800 7600 NA 55300 110400
2007 1352 13979 13890 1672 3212 3474 19802 8772 NA 49879 116030
2008 1250 21581 19134 3358 3520 1749 13331 8551 NA 53681 126154
2009 1463 19937 23329 1252 4108 3576 18441 11800 NA 50208 134127
2010 5367 17915 21602 2235 3903 1492 25028 9126 NA 50037 136706
2011 1848 14924 19229 2730 3432 1997 27998 8471 NA 36156 116785
2012 1415 11380 18049 896 2637 1847 25472 13044 NA 26153 101000
2013 3419 12601 18175 1415 3548 1724 20568 10046 NA 29458 100954
2014 2723 15334 27905 1731 4853 2096 27316 15854 NA 34888 132700
2015 332 18782 31571 2917 5657 4694 39024 20889 NA 50568 174433
2016 4040 20097 28852 4340 8362 5184 40990 24179 NA 56011 192056
2017* 9342 23320 40692 3594 7912 4037 40102 22327 NA 51191 202517

* Preliminary



Table 10 Catches (in tonnes) from the central Baltic management area and of the central Baltic stock of herring in Subarea 4 and divisions 3.a and 7.d, autumn spawners.


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Year Catches.of.herring.from.the.central.Baltic.area X X.1 Central.Baltic.herring.stock.catches X.2
Central Baltic Gulf of Riga Total Central Baltic Total catch of
herring stock herring stock herring caught in Gulf of Riga central Baltic herring stock
1977 261900
261900 2400 264300
1978 276600
276600 6300 282900
1979 297800
297800 4700 302500
1980 282700
282700 5700 288400
1981 269200
269200 5900 275100
1982 292600
292600 4700 297300
1983 280600
280600 4800 285400
1984 269300
269300 3800 273100
1985 267700
267700 4600 272300
1986 248300
248300 1300 249600
1987 231600
231600 4800 236400
1988 262500
262500 3000 265500
1989 263600
263600 5900 269500
1990 223300
223300 6000 229300
1991 188500
188500 6100 194600
1992 185700 1300 187000 3500 189200
1993 204000 1200 205200 4300 208300
1994 213600 2100 215700 5000 218600
1995 183200 2400 185600 6100 189300
1996 162300 4300 166600 4400 166700
1997 167700 2900 170600 4300 172000
1998 181800 2800 184600 4100 185900
1999 144400 1900 146300 4300 148700
2000 170500 1900 172400 4600 175100
2001 147300 1200 148500 2900 150200
2002 125600 400 126000 3500 129100
2003 109500 400 109900 4300 113800
2004 89700 200 89900 3300 93000
2005 89300 500 89800 2300 91600
2006 107200 400 107600 3200 110400
2007 114500 100 114600 1500 116000
2008 120100 100 120200 6100 126154
2009 129200 100 129300 4900 134126
2010 131500 400 131900 5200 136706
2011 111300 100 111400 5500 116785
2012 97200 200 97400 3800 100893
2013 96900 300 97200 4100 100954
2014 128200 200 128400 4500 132700
2015 169465 316 169781 4968 174433
2016 187741 289 188029 4315 192056
2017* 198621 234 198855 3896 202517
* Preliminary

Sources and references

  • EU. 2013. Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32013R1380.
  • EU. 2016. Regulation (EU) 2016/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2016 establishing a multiannual plan for the stocks of cod, herring and sprat in the Baltic Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks, amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2187/2005 and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R1139&from=EN
  • Gröhsler, T., Oeberst, R., Schaber, M., Larson, N., and Kornilovs, G. 2013. Discrimination of western Baltic spring-spawning and central Baltic herring (Clupea harengus L.) based on growth vs. natural tag information. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 70(6): 1108–1117. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fst064.
  • Hentati-Sundberg, J., Hjelm, J., and Österblom, H. 2014. Does fisheries management incentivize non-compliance? Estimated misreporting in the Swedish Baltic Sea pelagic fishery based on commercial fishing effort. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 71(7): 1846–1853. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsu036.
  • ICES. 2013. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Baltic Multispecies Assessments (WKBALT 2013), 4–8 February 2013, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2013/ACOM:43. 399 pp.
  • ICES. 2014. Second Interim Report of the Working Group on Maritime Systems (WGMARS), 2–5 December 2014, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2014/SSGSUE:08. 35 pp.
  • ICES 2015. EU request to ICES to provide FMSY ranges for selected North Sea and Baltic Sea stocks. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 20125. ICES Advice 20125, Book 6, Section 6.2.3.1. http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Advice/2015/Special_Requests/EU_FMSY_ranges_for_selected_NS_and_BS_stocks.pdf.
  • ICES. 2016. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2016. ICES Advice 2016, Book 1, Section 1.2.
  • ICES. 2018. Report of the Baltic Fisheries Assessment Working Group (WGBFAS), 6–13 April 2018, ICES Headquarters, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2018/ACOM:11.